Black Elk
Black Elk is the main character in the story, the narrator following him from childhood till adulthood. Black Elk distinguishes himself as a natural leader and an extremely intelligent man, capable of learning almost everything with ease and extremely fast. Black Elk is also interested in the life and welfare of his people and as such decided to put his life on the line and fight in various famous clashes between the Native Americans and the US troops. However, above all, the narrator describes him as a wise man, trying to play his part and help his people survive.
The ancestors
Black Elk was profoundly affected by a vision he had as a child in which he saw his ancestors and in which he was blessed by them. The ancestors are described as being a group of faceless men, guiding the young and showing them the right path. For the main character, the ancestors have divine powers and rule every aspect of his life.
Black Road
Black Road was a medicine man in the village where Black Elk grew up. As a child, Black Elk respected Black Road and as such confided in him after having his vision. Black Road is an important person for Black Elk because he was the one who made Black Elk realize the importance of his vision and what path he was supposed to take in life.
Black Elk's father
Black Elk describes his father as a manly man, someone who was not afraid to protect his family and fight for his people. The father was also a medicine man, compassionate and interested in the well-being of his people. Black Elk praises his father throughout the biography and implies that he played an important role in deciding what to do with his life once he reached adulthood.
The soldier at Little Bighorn
Black Elk took part in the battle at Little Bighorn and was involved in the killing of at least one soldier. The man killed remains unnamed but he is described as having short hair and braving through the scalping process without flinching. Eventually, the soldier was killed by a shot to the head.
The Lakota commander
The person who told Black Elk to kill the soldier also remains unnamed and is referred to as the Lakota man riding a beautiful horse. The description of the man is interesting because it transmits the idea that most of the Native Indians did not felt any kind of remorse when tasked with killing white soldiers.
Buffalo Bill
Bill was an American man who put together a band of Native Americans and then toured the world with them and putting on shows displaying traditional dances. Black Elk was a member of the group for a few years, a time during which he traveled all over Europe. Bill is described as being a cruel and ruthless man, but with a keen sense of justice.
